Between taxes, user fees, restrictions on property use, and the ever-increasing number of laws imposed at federal, state, county, and local levels, we may not feel very free. As the article linked above suggests, the US is gradually losing ground in terms of economic freedom, but we are still rather well off compared to much of the world. Perhaps this kind of freedom is only relative and best understood in comparison to other countries, although small differences in “freedom score” (e.g., between the US and Canada) may not matter much. Still interesting to consider, though. So how (or why) does Ireland do so well?
Comparing Economic Freedom
A Cup of Brouhaha 